Paper folding machine



April 1941. F. BRILLAS PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Filed 00%- 5. 1939 3 60 FreATTO R N EY Patented Apr. 8, 1941 I UNITE STATES PATENT ()FFICE PAPERFOLDING MACHINE Fredrick Brillas, New York, N. Y. Applicatien October 5,1939, Serial No. warm 7 Claims. (01. arc-cs) This invention relates tonew and useful improvements in a paper folding machine.

The invention has for an object the construction of a paper foldingmachine which is characterized by a rubber roller and a cooperativesteel roller contacting therewith and associated with mechanism forforcing paper against these rollers in a manner so that the rubberroller picks up the paper and moves same between itself and thecooperative steel roller for producing the fold. In place of the rubberroller other rollers having a good friction surface may be used.Similarly, the steel roller may be replaced with other metal 110 rollersor rollers having smooth surfaces.

Still further the invention contemplates a nove1 arrangement forsupporting the paper in various relative positions to said rollers andmoving the paper resiliently against these rollers.

Another object resides in the provision of a novel means for guiding thefoldedpaper to a stacking platform.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is aside elevational view of a paper folding machine constructedaccording to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line 44 ofFig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view looking in the direction of theline 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line of Fig. 5. v

The paper folding machine, according to this invention, includes a framehaving a pair of spaced side Walls I held in fixed positions by severaltransversely extending members. At the top there is a rod I I connectingthe side walls ID. Intermediate of the height of the frame there is astationary platform l2 for assisting in fixedly connecting these parts.

A rearwardly inclined platform I3 is vertically movably mounted on theframe. This is accomplished by supporting the platform I3 on a pair ofscrews I4 rotatively supported at their top ends upon lugs I mounted onthe side walls I0. Near their bottom ends the screws I4 pass throughthrust bearings I6 which are mounted on the stationary platform I}. Theplatform is formed with side projecting lugs [3 It is through these lugsthat the screws I4 engage. The screws threadedly engage the lugs It sothat when the screws are turned in one direction the platform 13 willmove upwards, while when turned in the other direction the platform willmove downwards. The rearward inclination of the platform I3 may be notedfrom Fig. 1. The stationary platform I2 is arranged parallel to themovable platform I3.

A plurality of normally stationary fingers I8 are arranged at rightangles to the movable platform I3 and extend through slots 19 formedinwards from the rear edge of the movable platform. These fingers I8project from a plate 20 transversely movably mounted beneath thestationary platform I2. The support of the plate 20 is accomplished byseveral rods 2| mounted upon the plate 26 and slidably engaging throughlugs 22 projecting from the bottom face of the stationary platform I2.

A means is provided for adjusting'the plate 211 forwards and rearwardsto correspondingly change the positions of the-fingers I8; This meansincludes a screw 23 whichis threadedly engaged through a. lug 24projecting from the bottom face of the stationary platform I2. The rearend of the screw 23 is rotatively connected by a union 25 with the frontedge of the plate 20. The front end of the screw 23 is provided with awheel 26 by which it may be turned in one direction or the other. Thearrangement is such that the fingers I8 maybe adjusted forwards'orrearwards by turning the Wheel 26.

A rubber covered roller 21 and a cooperative .steel roller 28 contactwith each other and are rotatively mounted across the top of the frameabove the platform I3. These rollers 2'! and 28 have their bottomelements in a plane parallel to the plane of the platform iii. A secondsteel roller 29 contacts with the steel roller 28 and is also rotativelymounted across the'top' of the frame of the machine. A means is providedfor driving one of these rollers to rotate'all three. This meansincludes a projecting shaft 28 from the roller 28, which shaft isprovided with a pulley 3!). A driving belt 3| engages over this pulleyand over a wheel 32 which is driven by an electric motor 33. This motorhas a pulley 34 on the end of its shaft over which a belt 35 engages.The belt 35 also engages over th wheel 32.

A guide is provided for guiding sheets between the rubber roller 21 andthe steel roller 28 to cause these sheets to pass between the steelrollers 28 and 29. This guide comprises a relatively stiff sheet 36mounted upon the frame of the machine immediately above the rubberroller 2'! and having a lip 36 arranged to direct paper between therollers 28 and 29. A guide is also provided for engaging the edges ofsheets stacked on the platform l3 to hold them from edgewisedisplacement. This guide includes a horizontal rod 39 mounted upon theframe of the machine. A pair of side rods 40 and 4| are supported attheir upper ends by bushings 42 which slidably engage on the rod 39.Clamp screws 43 engage the bushings 42 for clamping the rods 40 and 4|in various fixed positions. The platform I3 is formed with slots 44extended in from the side edges thereof so as to permit lateraladjustment of the rods 40 and 4| to engage the edges of sheets of paperof different widths.

A means is also provided for driving the platform I3 upwards toresiliently force sheets of paper thereon to engage against the rubberroller 2! and the cooperative steel roller 28. This means includes ashaft 45 which is rotatively supported between the side walls I andwhich is provided with bevel gears 46 bevel gears 41 mounted upon thebottom ends of the screws l4. A large worm gear 48 is also mounted onthe shaft 45 and is engaged by a worm pinion 49 on a shaft 59 which isrotatively supported on one of the side walls Hi and upon which thewheel 32 is freely rotatively mounted. The wheel 32 has one sidehollowed out to form a cavity I. At diametrically opposite sides of thiscavity there are fiat elements 52 which are adapted to be gripped by apair of shoes 53. These shoes are mounted upon the ends of fork members54 which extend towards each other and which are pivotally mounted onthe shaft 59 by a pintle 55. The inner ends of the members 54 restagainst a disc 56 which is resiliently urged against the members 54 by aspring 51. This spring is coaxially mounted on a stationary screw 58.The screw 58 is supported by an arm 59 which is mounted on a bracket 60fixedly mounted on one of the side walls ID.

A wheel BI is threadedly engaged on the screw 58 and abuts one end ofthe spring 51. The arrangement is such that the wheel Bl may be manuallyturned to adjust the tension of the spring 51. This adjustment willcontrol the gripping of the shoes 53 with the elements 52 or theslipping of the parts at these points.

A receiving mechanism is provided for receiving the folded sheets asthey leave the folding machine. This receiving mechanism includes astacking platform 63 which is vertically mounted on vertical members 64and 65. The platform 53 is resiliently supported by springs 66. A guidesheet 61 is mounted on the top of the member 64 and is adapted to guidethe folded sheets on the stacking platform 63. Further details of thereceiving and stacking platform will not be given in this specificationas it forms no part of the invention and similar platforms are generallyused at the present time on printing machines, folding machines, andother types of kindred machinery.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The sheets to be folded are placed upon the platform 13. Since theplatform leans rearwardly the sheets will all rest against the supportfingers H3. The wheel 26 may be adjusted to move the fingers I8 forwardsor rearwards so as to place the sheets in proper positions relative tothe folding rollers 21 and 28 so that the folds will come out at theproper place when the machine operates. The guides 49 and 4| are thenadjusted to engage against the side edges of the stack of sheets on theplatform [3. The electric motor 33 is now set into operation. Rotationsfrom the motor will be transmitted to the wheel 32 and thence by thebelt 3| to drive the rollers 21, 28 and 29.

Rotations from the wheel 32 may also be transmitted to the shaft 59depending upon the tension of the spring 51. Assume that the tension ofthis spring when the machine is set into operation is such that norotations are transmitted. The operator then turns the wheel 6| toincrease the tension of the spring 51 until such time that the shoes 53grip the elements 52. Rotations from the wheel 32 will now betransmitted to the shoes 53, the forks 54, and thus to the shaft 50. Theshaft 50 is now turning and drives the worms 49. 48 and the shaft 45.

Rotations from the shaft are transmitted to the screws 14 which move theplatform l3 upwards. The platform will soon reach a position in whichthe top sheet of paper presses with a certain pressure against therollers 21 and 28.- This pressure may be controlled by controlling thetension of the spring 51. This pressure cannot be exceeded since theelements 52 will have the tendency of idling past the shoes 53, andhence the shaft stops turning. This indirectly causes the platform l3 tocease moving upwards. The top sheet of paper will now be folded.

In Fig. 4 this is schematically illustrated. The sheet is indicated byreference numeral 10. It should be noted that the rubber roller 2!starts the fold at'the area [0 Soon this area engages in between therollers 2! and 28 and so the fold is completed. The folded sheet willdischarge from between the rollers 28 and 29 to the loading platform 63.In Fig. 4 one of the uiding fingers i8 is shown properly engaged againstthe rear edge of the sheet 10. the sheets have been folded the platform13 will automatically move up a short distance. manner the operationcontinues until all of the sheets on the platform I3 have been folded.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a paper folding machine, a frame, a platform upon which sheets ofpaper to be folded are rested in a stacked position, rollers for foldingsaid sheets of paper mounted on said frame above said platform, verticalscrews rotatively mounted on said frame along the sides of saidplatform, lugs formed on the sides of said plat form and through whichsaid screws threadedly extend, and means for rotating said screws toprogressively raise said platform bringing the sheets of said stack intocontact with said rollers to be successively folded thereby, comprisinga shaft rotatively supported on said frame beneath said vertical screwsand at right angles thereto. bevel gears mounted on the lower ends ofsaid screws, complementary bevel gears mounted on After a certainnumberof- In this said shaft and meshing with said bevel gears, a gearmounted on an intermediate portion of said shaft, a second shaftrotatively supported on said frame and extending parallel to said shaft,a pinion mounted on said second shaft and meshing with said gear, apulley freely mounted on said second shaft, means for rotating saidpulley, and resilient means for locking said pulley to said second shaftfor rotating said second shaft to raise said platform when there is aspace between the topmost sheet of said stack and said rollers.

2. In a paper folding machine, a frame. a platform upon which sheets ofpaper to be folded are rested in a stacked position, rollers for foldingsaid sheets of paper mounted on said frame above said platform, verticalscrews rotatively mounted on said frame along the sides of saidplatform, lugs formed on the sides of said platform and through whichsaid screws threadedly extend, and means for rotating said screws toprogressively raise said platform bringing the sheets of said stack intocontact with said rollers to be successively folded. thereby. comprisinga shaft rotatively supported on said frame beneath said vertical screwsand at right angles thereto. bevel gears mounted on the lower ends ofsaid screws, complementary bevel gears mounted on said shaft and meshingwith said bevel gears. a gear mounted on an intermediate portion of saidon said second shaft, means for rotating said I pulley, and resilientmeans for locking said pulley to said second shaft for rotating saidsecond shaft to raise said platform when there is a space between thetopmost sheet of said stack and said rollers, said means being adaptedto slip when the topmost sheet of said stack is engaging against saidrollers to permit said pulley to turn independently of said second shaftto prevent said platform from being raised until the topmost sheet iscompletely folded.

3. In a paper folding machine, a frame, a platform upon which sheets ofpaper to be folded are rested in a stacked position, rollers for foldingsaid sheets of paper mounted on said frame above said platform, verticalscrews rotatively mounted on said frame along the sides of saidplatform, lugs formed on the sides of said platform and through whichsaid screws threadedly extend, and means for rotating said screws toprogressively raise said platform bringing the sheets of said stack.into contact with said rollers to be successively folded thereby,comprising a shaft rotatively supported on said frame beneath saidvertical screws and at right angles thereto, bevel gears mounted on thelower ends of said screws, complementary bevel gears mounted on saidshaft and meshing with said bevel gears, a gear mounted on anintermediate portion of said shaft, a second shaft rotatively supportedon said frame and extending parallel to said shaft, a pinion mounted onsaid second shaft and meshing with said gear, a pulley freely mounted onsaid second shaft, means for rotating said pulley, and resilient meansfor locking said pulley to said second shaft for rotating said secondshaft to ra se said platform when there is a space between the topmostsheet of said stack and said rollers, said means being adapted to slipwhen the topmost sheet of said stack is engaging against said rollers topermit said pulley to turn independently of said second shaft to preventsaid platform from being raised until the topmost sheet is completelyfolded, said pulley being formed in one of its faces with a cavityhaving fiat elements formed on diametrically opposite sides thereof,said resilient means, comprising fork members pivotally mounted on saidsecond shaft, shoes mounted on one of the ends of said fork members andengageable with the peripheral wall of said cavity, and means for urgingsaid forks to spread said shoes to cause the same to frictionally engagesaid flat elements and lock said pulley to said second shaft,

4. In a paper folding machine, a frame, a platform upon which sheets ofpaper to be folded are rested in a stacked position, rollers for foldingsaid sheets of paper mounted on said frame above said platform, verticalscrews ro'tatively mounted on said frame along the sides of saidplatform, lugs formed on the sides of said platform and through whichsaid screws threadedly extend, and means for rotating said screws toprogressively raise said platform bringing the sheets of said stack intocontact with said rollers to be successively folded thereby, comprisinga shaft rotatively supported on said frame beneath said vertical screwsand at right angles thereto, bevel gears mounted on the lower ends ofsaid screws, complementary bevel gears mounted on said shaft and meshingwith said bevel gears, a gear mounted on an intermediate portion of saidshaft, a second shaft rotatively supported on said frame and extendingparallel to said shaft, a

pinion mounted on said second shaft and meshing with said gear, a pulleyfreely mounted on said second shaft, means for rotating said pulley, andresilient means for locking said pulley to said second shaft forrotating said second shaft to raise said platform when there is a spacebetween the topmost sheet of said stack and said rollers, said meansbeing adapted to slip when the topmost sheet of said stack is engagingagainst said rollers to permit said pulley to turn independently of saidsecond shaft to prevent said platform from being raised until thetopmost sheet is completely folded, said pulley being formed in one ofits faces with a cavity having flat elements formed on diametricallyopposite sides thereof, said resilient means, comprising fork memberspivotally mounted on said second shaft, shoes mounted on one of the endsof said fork members and engageable with the peripheral wall of saidcavity, and means for urging said forks to spread said shoes to causethe same to frictionally engage said flat elements and lock said pulleyto said second shaft, said latter means, comprising a disc freelymounted on said second shaft and bearing against the free ends of saidfork mem bers, a spring coaxially mounted on said second shaft andengaging the free face of said disc, and

a wheel threadedly mounted on said second shaft and bearing against theother end of said spring, whereby when said wheel is adjusted itincreases the tension of said spring spreading said fork members andcausing the shoes to engage said fiat members.

5. In a paper folding machine, a frame, a platform movably mounted onsaid frame and upon which sheets of paper to be folded are rested in astacked position, rollers for folding said sheets of paper mounted onsaid frame above said platform, means for raising said platform bringingthe sheets of paper forming said stack successively into contact withsaid rollers to be successively folded thereby, and means for shiftingthe position of said stack of sheets on said platform relative to saidrollers causing said fold to be formed at various positions across saidsheets, comprising a stationary platform mounted on said frame beneathsaid movable platform, a plate beneath said stationary platform, aplurality of fingers extending upwards from said plate and passingthrough aligned slots extending inwards from the rear edges of saidplatforms and against which the rear edges of said sheets are adapted torest, means for slidably supporting said plate on said stationaryplatform, and means for holding said plate in various adjustedpositions.

6. In a paper folding machine, a frame, a platform movably mounted onsaid frame and upon which sheets of paper to be folded are rested in astacked position, rollers for folding said sheets of paper mounted onsaid frame above said platform, means for raising said platform bringingthe sheets of paper forming said stack successively into contact withsaid rollers to be successively folded thereby, and means for shiftingthe position of said stack of sheets on said platform relative to saidrollers causing said fold to be formed at various positions [across saidsheets, comprising a stationary platform mounted on said frame beneathsaid movable platform, a plate beneath said stationary platform, aplurality of fingers extending upwards from said plate and passingthrough aligned slots extending inwards from the rear edges of saidplatforms and against which the rear edges of said sheets are adapted torest, means for slid-ably supporting said plate on said stationaryplatform, and means for holding said plate in various adjustedpositions, said firstmentloned means, comprising lugs mounted on thebottom face of said stationary platform and at the sides thereof, androds mounted on and extending at right angles to said plate and slidablyextended through openings formed in said lugs.

7. In a paper folding machine, a frame, a platform movably mounted onsaid frame and upon which sheets of paper to be folded are rested in astacked position, rollers for folding said sheets of paper mounted onsaid frame above said platform, means for raising said platform bringingthe sheets of paper forming said stack successively into contact withsaid rollers to be successively folded thereby, and means for shiftingthe position of said stack of sheets on said platform relative to saidrollers causing said fold to be formed at various positions across saidsheets, comprising a stationary platform mounted on said frame beneathsaid movable platform, a plate beneath said stationary platform, aplurality of fingers extending upwards from said plate and passingthrough aligned slots extending inwards from the rear edges of saidplatforms and against which the rear edges of said sheets are adapted torest, means for slidably supporting said plate on said stationaryplatform, and means for holding said plate in various adjustedpositions, said lattermentioned means, comprising a lug mounted on thebottom face of said stationary platform, and a screw having itsintermediate portion threadedly engaged through said lug and its rearend rot-atively attached to the front edge of said plate.

FREDRICK BRILLAS.

